How Great Thou Art

by Judy Richardson 

September 15, 2020 

We are studying Hymns in Adult Sunday School. September 6 we studied “How Great Thou Art.” I

Carl Boberg

cannot remember the first time I heard this hymn but its notes strike chords in my heart every time I hear it sung. It never fails to bring tears to my eyes. It was very interesting to learn that this hymn has not been around forever. 

It all started in 1885, in Sweden when a Pastor named Carl Boberg walked home from an afternoon Church service. Nature was presenting her best face, but he had to seek cover from a quick storm accompanied by lightning and thunder. Later at home he was able to open his windows to sunshine and thus the first verse was born:

 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made. 

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed. 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! 

Pastor Dave added the description of the first verse as one of praise to God. This was originally written as a poem called “O Store Gud” (Oh Mighty God) but several years later Pastor Carl heard his poem being sung to the tune of an old Swedish folk song which it retains in modified form today. 

In 1907, Manfred von Glehn, a German Baptist minister heard the hymn sung by a Swedish community in Estonia. He was so impressed that he translated it into German and it was called, “Wie Gross Bist Du” (How Great You Are). It quickly gained popularity and traveled throughout Germanspeaking Europe. 

In 1912, it was translated into Russian by Ivan Prokhanov who was a leader and popular hymn writer among Russian Protestants. His version was called “Velikiy Bog” (Great God) and grew in popularity throughout Russia, including south to Ukraine. 

Stuart Wesley Keene Hine and his wife were missionaries who ministered to the Ukrainian people, arriving in 1930. They heard the Russian version of the Hymn and used it in their outreach services. This verse praises God’s creation, this earth, this gift of life. It was inspired by the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains. 

When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, 

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!

 One evening, the Hines visited a small village. They inquired about Christians living there and were given directions to a home. When they arrived there were loud voices coming from within. They heard a group of people just learning about Christ who were actively repenting their sinful lives. They were eagerly expressing their new found faith and joy in Christ’s promise of love and mercy. Not wanting to disturb, they did not enter, but Hine was inspired to write the third verse: 

And when I think that God his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, 

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin. 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! 

Pastor Dave reminded us that this is the verse that is most often left out, but it is so important because the Cross is at the heart of our beliefs. Just thinking of God delivering his son to bear our sins and die on the Cross for us is such an awesome gift of grace and mercy. 

In the early 1930’s, the Hine’s were forced to leave the Ukraine as Stalin came to power and in 1939 they had to leave Europe altogether as Hitler came to power. 

When WWII came, the Hines ministered to the inmates of a camp of displaced Russians in Sussex County, England. Sussex County is Southwest of the Cliffs of Dover and also has white cliffs along the English Channel. 

The fourth verse was inspired there, by a man who told a story of being separated from his wife at the end of the war. When they were separated, his wife was a Christian, but he was not. He had found Christ after the separation and had no hope of ever seeing her alive. He wanted to share their faith together but knew it could not happen. Instead he was longing for the day they would meet in heaven and share eternal life together. This inspired Hines to write the fourth verse: 

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! 

Then I shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!” 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art! 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee: How great thou art! How great thou art!

 I looked up the word “acclamation.” It means “loud and enthusiastic approval, typically to welcome or honor someone or something.” You can’t beat that! 

It was not until 1949, the year of my birth, that this hymn was translated into English. I somehow had thought that this hymn had been around forever. George Beverly Shea popularized this hymn during the Billy Graham crusades and Elvis Presley recorded it in 1966, which also added to its popularity. I have been checking out YouTube for different renditions and have heard many singers leaving out verses. Most often, they have included just the first and last verses. 

When I finished learning about this Hymn, I realized that it has taken a long trip to reach its perfection. I can still hear my mother’s beautiful Contralto voice singing this hymn. It is a favorite memory of mine. What a glorious way to celebrate our God and the many gifts that he has given to all of us. Praise God!